Hi Baldev,
Merry Christmas! I would like to get some input from you on sound recording for documentaries...if you don't mind. What would be the best equipment to use for a documentary where I need to capture sound outdoors? Is it best to get one where it is integrated with the camera or better to get an external recorder? If so which one?
Thanks ever so much for your help,
Regards, (my email – prabs_n@yahoo.com)
Kanasu

Record to the camera for ease of editing, especially if you are just beginning. Less equipment to handle. Unless of course, you just want wild sound, then you can use a digital recorder like the Zoom H2 or H4. Input with a good mic like a Schoeps. If you have the budget then a Sound Device 702

Well, here I am, on the D-word at the urging of my friend, Tanner Wolfe. I own a film production company called Dusk Films. I am transforming it into a non-profit. Exciting times. I hope to contribute to the site as much as possible and I hope to learn from all of you as well. I love community stuff and I love film.

My friend Doug Block has been urging me to join d-word for years! I am happy to finally be here. I have always enjoyed the community of documentary film makers when I have been at film festivals. So now I guess I have that community on tap.
I am amongst other things, a documentary film maker. Having made films about OTHER people I am currently making two films which include MYSELF.
I was trained as an ethnographer – one who uses their own self as an instrument of understanding the world view of others. Although I tell my own story on stage – in a performance called Two Men Talking – the enterprise or telling my story on film is one of the most challenging I've ever undertaken.
Perhaps there are those of you out there in the same boat.

Welcome at last, Murray, but you're only halfway here. You now need to sign up as a full member to gain access to all the discussion topics.

Murray is a being a bit humble, as usual. He made a terrific feature documentary called "Paternal Instinct" that I'm proud to say I co-produced. And he was nominated for an Academy Award (with Roger Weisberg) for the short, "Why Can't We Be A Family Again?" And he's a total sweetheart of a homo sapien.

Hi All, just joined the d-word this week, not sure why it took so long! I run a fledgling documentary production company, and am obsessed with all things documentary. Currently working on finishing a feature length doc 2 years in the making, about a kibbutz in Israel. I'm looking forward to learning and contributing at the d-word.

Hi Erica, I will do that. Didn't have enough time to work on it to submit it again for January, but we are hoping to re-submit for the March screening. By the way, the new Docs In Progress website is great!

Hi everybody
my name is Issar Shulman,I'm a musician.I do specially like documentary movies and for the music I wrote for the film "To die in Jerusalem" I was nominated for an Emmy award in September 2008.
I had a great experience working with HBO,editor Geof Bartz and director Hilla Medalia.that is the cause for my decision to move to NY in March and try to make as much connections I can.
you can hear some of my music in my web site
www.issarshulman.com

hope for inspiring collaboration in the documentary realm and feel free to ask me for music suggestions if you are looking for music to your movies.

Welcome Issar! I just listened to your samples. Very impressive. I'm positive you'll be making connections here. In my opinion this is one of, if not, the best forum for documentary filmmakers/musicians/whatever out there.

Hello everyone! I've been producing documentaries for a couple of years with d-word member Ben Crosbie, but have only just now joined the forum! I'm looking forward to connecting with other people who share my passion.

Hi,Issar, we are Russian cinema (not big)and music production company.Music for films – in our list.So we are interesting in cooperation.I`ll write you a letter this week.Your work is impressive.Michal Stein, info@storypictures.biz

well if you insist , then i'll throw in a brief introduction of who i am and how i relate to documentary..... here it goes, brace yourselves:
i've always been in love with cinema and film ever since i was a child growing up with my grandmother and uncle who after coming back from his day job as a civil engineer would take me to an arthouse movie theatre ( sadly it's closing now ) to watch a different movie almost every day..... well this passion and love grew up as i grew older and soon enough i found myself landing my first job at the Video/DVD rental store that i frequented alot ....there i have to say i watched my first documentary , the one that made me want to upgrade my passion to becoming a vocation , an occupation , a practice.... no secret that documentary was none other than Chris Marker's "Sans Soleil" , i was 14 at the time .... ( i miss those days of being sourrounded by films me there between them, wondering what worlds and feelings and thoughts those discs retain......let's jump to when i realized i'm not cut to become a mechanical engineer and dropped out to go study filmmaking , but was severely lambasted by my father... so i went into graphic design, and chose to specialize in motion graphics, screen based design....and still wanting to be a filmmaker, it was only when my Danish instructor and friend told me about some folk highschool system in the secluded parts of Denmark.... i naturally applied and found myself in a micro-european community of enthusiats that want to venture in filmmaking.... the first course i took there was documentary ( a rather fundamental course) that broadened my perception ,opened my eyes and gave me certain skills that not only made me visualize , and technically approach filmmaking , but also nurtured my passion for documentaries and my evergrowing intellectual curiosity.... and from there on i tried to take every doc related course given at that institution....no secret that Mr. Burgan was the mastermind behind all those courses and sculpter of my new born documentary intellect.... after the course was over i went back to Lebanon (that peculiar tiny spot of bother in the middle east)... and as with everybody in that part of the world, being a full time filmmaker or any form of artistic occupation is synonymous with being non productive, social parasite , not to mention miserably broke... so i took ona job as an assistant producer for Young and Rubicam advertising (television commercials, radio spots , corporate films,.. what i call film prostitution) but i make ends meet, establish a not so bad network of cast, post production companies, directors, DOP, equipment rental....the full monty of film industry.....
i've been in the writing process of a doc-fiction about "the lebanese current situation" ( political assasinations, religious diversity and it's effect on society, state, and government).....
well that's about it...not so brief i see , then again you asked for it .....
oh just a colsing statement ; to me documentaries are the next level of filmmaking , the elevated intellect if you want ,la creme de la creme .....